Moving Trailer with Front Hitch - Dutchmen Owners
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Dutchmen Owners > Dutchmen Technical | Towing, Maintenance and Repairs > Towing Talk
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 07-19-2015, 05:52 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Moving Trailer with Front Hitch

Hey everybody! So getting our trailer backed into the pad next to our house is extremely tricky and tight. I was curious if anyone has used a front hitch to push your trailer into place. I have read that you don't have the benefit of the mirrors seeing around the trailer but at this point, I am willing to sacrifice that.

We have a 32 foot Kodiak 291RESL and our truck is a F150 Crew Cab with the 5.4L.

Any thoughts or experience would be greatly appreciated!
__________________

__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 06:55 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
skarlin1976's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 53
Arizona
You might want to consider a power trailer dolly. I have never actually used one but the look like they can do the trick. There is Parkit 360 and Power Caster.
Also might want to consider a remote trailer mover check out Purple Line.
__________________

__________________

The Epic RV Adventures of the Karlin Family
www.campfireshenanigans.com
skarlin1976 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 07:17 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
I actually spoke to the folks at Parkit 360 and PowerMovers and they both said we wouldn't be able to use their dolly's. We have a 6" decline at the mouth of our driveway that happens in 2 feet. The Purple Line movers looks interesting and I will give Power Caster a call as we have not spoke to them yet.

Thanks for the info!
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 08:39 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
A lot of RV repair shops have a ball on the front bumper of their shop trucks. It's easier for them to push the trailer into the shop unless they just have to back it in.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 08:50 PM   #5
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
That's what we heard from a friend so I thought I'd see if anyone one here had any experience doing it that way. Thx!
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 09:48 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
arlan in arizona's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Quartzsite
Posts: 682
Arizona
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
A lot of RV repair shops have a ball on the front bumper of their shop trucks.
I would bet that it is far more than a ball on the front bumper. Perhaps on flat parking lots it may work.

I have a homemade winch mount on the front of my truck.

Although I used it as a winch a couple of time and it worked fine. The one time I tried to push a trailer up a steep and curved hill I had problems.

The up, down and sideways stress was more than I had anticipated and the mount started tearing at the front frame member. I have re-built since then it and although it winches fine. I have never tried pushing a trailer at extreme angles again.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3905
2013 F350 4x4 DRW
2013 RZR XP 900
arlan in arizona is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 10:02 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Totally agreed! I found a few places online that sell a receiver hitch that bolts to the frame of the truck and I would swap my ball to the front when we get her home and push her in. I'm gonna call some places tomorrow and see what kind of weight these receiver's can carry.
Thx!
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 10:41 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
Quote:
Originally Posted by arlan in arizona View Post
I would bet that it is far more than a ball on the front bumper. Perhaps on flat parking lots it may work.

I have a homemade winch mount on the front of my truck.

Although I used it as a winch a couple of time and it worked fine. The one time I tried to push a trailer up a steep and curved hill I had problems.

The up, down and sideways stress was more than I had anticipated and the mount started tearing at the front frame member. I have re-built since then it and although it winches fine. I have never tried pushing a trailer at extreme angles again.
My comment is based on my visual experience, nothing more. Nothing is impossible, just takes some ingenuity and imagination.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 10:47 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
My comment is based on my visual experience, nothing more. Nothing is impossible, just takes some ingenuity and imagination.
And a cold beer when you're done!
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 11:01 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
sundancer 87's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
You might try and bridge the drop off to lessen the angle of approach. I've seen a lot of 2x4s sitting curbside where fifth wheels had been backed into the yard.
__________________
2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
sundancer 87 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 11:09 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
You might try and bridge the drop off to lessen the angle of approach. I've seen a lot of 2x4s sitting curbside where fifth wheels had been backed into the yard.
That's not a bad idea.. The drop off is over 24" so I could almost build some sort of ramp to spread that out even more.
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 12:25 AM   #12
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Did it for years with a variety of trailers, don't need the mirrors, just a good set of reference points or a competent spotter. Now I use my John Deere 2020.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 12:57 AM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
Did it for years with a variety of trailers, don't need the mirrors, just a good set of reference points or a competent spotter. Now I use my John Deere 2020.

Aaron
That's great to hear! Did you bolt up a receiver hitch on the front of your truck?
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 04:08 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
I had a 9' gate to put my 8' RV into at the last place we lived. I had to back it in from my blind side. I got very good at backing up. It was 33' long. Had a curb that was just under 12" to go over. I built metal rams to get up on the sidewalk and then onto my grass.
To me backing skills are something you need if RVing. This past week on vacation I got into a spot the owner didn't think my rig would fit into. Took a little doing but I made it.
The more you back up the better you will get. You never know when the skill might come in handy.
__________________
Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
DesertRat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 06:37 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat View Post
I had a 9' gate to put my 8' RV into at the last place we lived. I had to back it in from my blind side. I got very good at backing up. It was 33' long. Had a curb that was just under 12" to go over. I built metal rams to get up on the sidewalk and then onto my grass.
To me backing skills are something you need if RVing. This past week on vacation I got into a spot the owner didn't think my rig would fit into. Took a little doing but I made it.
The more you back up the better you will get. You never know when the skill might come in handy.
While we've only had our trailer for one year, I have gotten much better then I was in the beginning at backing up. As you can see in the picture, there's kind of S curve in our driveway to get the trailer onto the pad and the street in front of our house is narrow so I don't have much room for the truck to swing.

I was thinking with the front hitch I would not have the problems with the front of the truck swinging wide. I am also lobbying the wife to extend the pad which would make it much easier.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Picture 10.jpg
Views:	548
Size:	50.2 KB
ID:	2382  
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 06:40 PM   #16
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by KadMan View Post
That's great to hear! Did you bolt up a receiver hitch on the front of your truck?
They make a short receiver for that purpose. The truck I had it on was a 1978 Ford F250 Camper Special. I don't recall if it was bolted or welded on.

Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 06:45 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Desert Hot Springs
Posts: 1,761
California
After seeing your picture I agree just extend that pad straight out to your driveway.
The way I fixed mine was to move to a home on 5 acres. Now I can pull thru to my spot. Added a sewer dump, water & 30 amp power also. Oh & then bought a 40" toyhauler.
__________________
Mike
2002 42' Monaco Signature Triple Crown tow 2014 F-150
2014 Voltage V3605 Sold 5/3/17
2012 F-350 6.7l CC 4X4, Sold 10/10/17
DesertRat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 07:13 PM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
They make a short receiver for that purpose. The truck I had it on was a 1978 Ford F250 Camper Special. I don't recall if it was bolted or welded on.

Aaron
Cool… Thx!
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 07:18 PM   #19
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Portland
Posts: 25
Oregon
Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat View Post
After seeing your picture I agree just extend that pad straight out to your driveway.
The way I fixed mine was to move to a home on 5 acres. Now I can pull thru to my spot. Added a sewer dump, water & 30 amp power also. Oh & then bought a 40" toyhauler.
Agreed, it would be much easier! And I only wish we had 5 acres to have a pull through, sewer dump, water and a 30 amp hook-up!!
__________________
2015 Kodiak 291 RESL
2007 F150 5.4L King Ranch
KadMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 11:30 PM   #20
Site Team
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
Quote:
Originally Posted by DesertRat View Post
After seeing your picture I agree just extend that pad straight out to your driveway.
The way I fixed mine was to move to a home on 5 acres. Now I can pull thru to my spot. Added a sewer dump, water & 30 amp power also. Oh & then bought a 40" toyhauler.


I got 40 acres and I am working on a pull through pole barn.

Nothing like living right!

Aaron
__________________

__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
wahoonc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Dutchmen RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2020 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.
×